Door operators



F. A. PURDY DOOR OPERATORS Feb. 13, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20,1966 F. A. PURDY DOOR OPERATORS Feb. 13, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May20, 1966 Feb. 13, 1968 F. A. PURDY 3,368,307

DOOR OPERATORS Filed May 20, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent3,368,307 DOOR OPERATORS Frederick A. Purdy, 870 United Nations Plaza,New York, N.Y. 10017 Filed May 20, 1966, Ser. No. 551,586 3 Claims. (Cl.49-280) This invention relates to a door operator and, moreparticularly, to apparatus for locking such a door in its closedposition.

In my copending US. application Ser. No. 401,264, filed Oct. 2, 1964,there is shown and described an operator for opening and closing agarage door in response to light emitted from the headlight of anautomobile. In such operator, the light from the headlight beamenergizes a light-sensitive cell, appropriately positioned on the doorframe to receive the light. The photoelectric cell, when lighted,energizes a circuit and motor to open, or close, the door.

In the apparatus of the aforementioned application, the motor isconnected, through gearing, to a two-piece grip sheave, or pulley. Thetwo halves, or pieces, of the pulley are spring pressed into engagementwith a cable connected, as an endless belt, to the door linkage. Whenthe motor, actuated by the light-sensitive cell, is driven in onedirection, the motor opens the door. When the motor is driven in theopposite direction, the motor closes the door. If, in closing, the doorshould engage a car passing through the door opening, a tool, a personwalking through the opening, or the like, the spring tension on the gripsheave, or pulley, is pre-set so that the pulley slips on the cablethereby avoiding damage to the motor, the door, and the object in theopening engaged by the door.

When the door in the aforementioned application is closed, the gearingarrangement between the motor and pulley prevents the cable from turningthe pulley if attempt is made to open the door manually. However, thespring pressure gripping the two halves of the grip sheave, or pulley,against the cable is such that the cable can slip on the pulley andpermit the door to be raised manually. Thus, when closed, the door insuch an arrangement is not locked or secured against manual opening,such as, by an intruder.

One of the objects of the instant invention is to provide an improveddoor operator.

A further object is to provide such an operator that,

when the door is closed, locks the door in its closed position.

Still a further object is to provide such an operator that is simple,easily installed and easily maintained.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the followingdescription and attached drawings in which- FIG. 1 is a side view,partly broken away and partly in section, of the apparatus of theinstant invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section, taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 withparts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in section and taken along line 44 of FIG. 2,showing the locking apparatus of the instant invention in its lockingposition;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the lock in its openposition;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view along line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line 88 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings illustrating an embodiment of the instantinvention on the door operator of the aforementioned application, door 2is connected by bracket 4 and pin 6 to interconnected links 8, 10, 12,14, 16. Links 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 are interconnected by pins 18, 20, 22,24. Rollers 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 are rotatably mounted on pins 6, 18, 20,22, 24, respectively. Roller 36 is rotatably mounted on pin 38 connectedto the end of link 16.

Rollers 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 roll in horizontal track 40 and arcuatetrack 42. The lower end of arcuate track 42 is aligned with verticaltrack 44. Tracks 40, 42, 44 are supported by means, not shown, from thestationary structure 50 of the garage in a conventional manner.

Spring 52 is connected by yoke 54 and pulley 56 to cable 58. Cable 58passes over pulley 60, rotatably supported on pin 62 carried onstructure 50. Cable 58 is connected at its lower end in a manner, notshown, to the door. Spring 52, cable 58, and pulleys associatedtherewith, counterbalance the weight of the door in the conventionalmanner.

Cable 70, interconnected at its opposite ends by an adjustableturn-buckle 72 to form an endless belt, passes over pulley 74 at oneend, adjacent the top of door 2 and, at its opposite end, over gripsheave, generally designated 76. Pulley 74 is mounted for rotation onpin 78 mounted at an appropriate angle on structure 50 so that the sidesof the endless cable belt pass on opposite sides of track 40, 42. Cable70 is connected by detachable lug 80 to the end of pin 38. Lug 80 isretained on pin 38 by pin 82, the end of pin 82 carrying ring 84.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, grip sheave 76 is in two parts,having an inter-engaging recessed disc and a shouldered disc 92, bothkeyed for rotation with shaft 94 by a fiat 96 (FIGS. 4 and 5) on theshaft. Hub 92' of shouldered disc 92 extends through frame 98 intoengagement with one side of washer 100 carried on shaft 94. Spring 104is compressed at the end of shaft 94 with one of its ends against theopposite side of washer 100 and its opposite end in engagement withlocking nuts 102 threaded on the end of shaft 94. By adjusting nuts 102,the compression of spring 104 and the gripping engagement of discs 90,92 on cable 70 is adjusted. Shaft 94 and discs 90, 92 are driven bymotor driven worm 106 and gear 108 keyed to shaft 94.

Lock control plate 110, having outwardly projecting flange 112, ispositioned on hub 92'. For reasons more apparent hereinafter, one end ofcompression spring 114 engages plate 110 and the opposite end ofcompression spring 114 is in engagement with washer 100. Bailer rod 116is connected, at one end, to flange 112 of plate 110 and, at its otherend, to the horizontal wall of channel catch 118, pivotally mounted onpin 120, fixedly mounted in bracket 122, fastened to housing 98. Catch118 is held on pin 120 by cotter pin 124 and is pivoted on pin 120 bybailer rod 116 in a manner to be described. The free end of channelcatch 118 straddles cable 70.

' Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, shifters 130, 132, interconnectedat one of their ends by tracer 134, are pivotally mounted onpins 136,138, respectively, carried on housing 98. Shippers, generally designated140, tightened in the desired location, are positioned on the upper andlower runs of endless belt cable 70 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5). Each of theshippers is made up of a threaded stud 142, drilled to receive cable 70,and nuts 144, 146 (FIG. 8). Nuts 144, 146 are tightened on stud 142 toengage cable 70 and lock the shipper in place on the cable.

As described in more detail in the aforementioned application,interconnected shifters 130, 132 and tracer 134 are connected to a motorreversing switch, not shown. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the motorenergized by the photoelectric, light-sensitive cell has closed door 2by turning grip sheave 76 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 1and 3, and shipper 140 has rotated shifters 130, 132 and tracer 134 in aclockwise direction around pins 136, 138. In moving clockwise aroundpins 136, 138,

shifters 130, 132 and tracer 134 have reversed the polarity of the doordrive motor and have opened the motor circuit, stopping the door in itsclosed position and, at the same time, conditioning the motor controlcircuit for a subsequent operation of the light-sensitive, photoelectriccell, for energization by the headlight beam of an automobile to openthe door.

As is also described in more detail in the aforementioned application,when the light-sensitive, photoelectric cell is subsequently energizedthe motor turns grip sheave 76 in a counterclockwise direction, as shownin FIGS. 1 and 3, to open the door and, when shipper 140 (FIG. 1), onthe upper side of the loop of belt cable 70 contacts shifter 132,shifters 130, 132 and tracer 134 are rotated counterclockwise about pins136, 138 and the motor reversing switch is again actuated to reverse thepolarity of the motor, open the motor circuit and re-set the circuit forsubsequent operation by a headlight beam to close the door. The door isin the open position until the light-sensitive, photoelectric cell isre-energized.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, grip sheave 76 isrotated by the motor through shaft 94. When rotated by the motor, shaft94 turns both discs 90, 92, nuts 102, spring 104, washer 100 and spring114. When shaft 94 and grip sheave 76 are rotated in a counterclockwisedirection to open the door, lock control plate 110 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and, throughbailer rod 116, catch 118 is pivoted in a clockwise direction on pin 120lifting the free end of channel catch 118. Thus, the free end of catch118 is lifted clear of cable 70 and shipper 140 on the lower side ofcable loop 70 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and, as cable loop 70 is moved in acounterclockwise direction around pulley 74 and grip sheave 76, shipper140 on the lower cable loop clears the free end of catch 118. As thedoor approaches its fully opened position, shipper 140, on the upperloop of cable 70, contacts shifters 130, 132 and tracer 134 rotatesshifters 130, 132 counterclockwise to reverse the door drive motor andopen the motor control circuit as described above.

When the light-sensitive photoelectric cell is reenergized, the motordrives shaft 94, and grip sheave 76, in a clockwise direction. Lockcontrol plate 110 is moved ClOCk'WiSe on shaft 94, as viewed in FIGS. 4and 5. Bailer rod 116 rotates catch 118 counterclockwise around pin 120and moves the free end of channel catch 118 into a straddle positionover cable 70. Cable belt 70 is rotated in a clockwise direction aroundpulley 74 and grip sheave 76. As shipper 140 on the lower side of cableloop 70 passes under the free end of channel catch 118, shipper 140raises the free end of the catch, passes under the catch, and the freeend of the catch again moves into straddle position over cable 70 by thecontinued rotation, in the clockwise direction, of grip sheave 76 andshaft 94.

In the normal operation of the door, i.e., by the lightsensitivephotoelectric cell, channel catch 118 is moved out of cable straddlingposition when the door is being opened and into straddle position whenthe door is being closed. Channel catch 118 does not, in any way,interfere with the automatic operation of the door.

As has been noted above, because of the two-piece construction of gripsheave 76 and the gripping engagement of discs 90, 92 with cable 70 bythe tension of compression spring 104, cable 70 slips on grip sheave 76if door 2 meets an obstruction. Because of the position of channel catch118 straddling cable 70 when the door is closed, if an attempt is madeto manually lift the door, cable 70 slips on grip sheave 76, but whenshipper 140 on the lower cable loop contacts the end of channel catch118, the door is locked and manual opening of the door is prevented. If,subsequent to such an attempt at manual opening, the light-sensitivephotoelectric cell is energized by the automobile headlight beam in thecustomary manner, the rotation of grip sheave 76 and shaft 94 rotatesplate counterclockwise, lifts the free end of channel catch 118 offcable 70, and allows the door to be automatically operated by the motorin its normal manner.

As is apparent from the preceding description, the locking arrangementof the instant invention is easily installed and requires nomaintenance. The arrangement does not interfere with the normalautomatic operation of the door, yet, if an attempt is made to open thedoor manually, such as by an intruder, the door is locked. Should powerfail, with the door closed, the cable connecting the door to theoperator can be disconnected from inside the garage, as described in theaforementioned application, or channel catch 118 may be lifted manuallyfrom inside of the garage to release the cable.

The locking arrangement of the instant application has been described inconjunction with the apparatus of copending application Ser. No.401,264. It is to be understood, however, that this description is forthe purpose of illustration. The arrangement has similar utility withother door operators.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door operator having a door, a sheave, a cable on said sheaveconnected to said door and a motor connected to said sheave for drivingsaid sheave and said cable in a first direction for opening said doorand in a second direction for closing said door, means for locking saiddoor closed comprising, a latch, means on said motor shaft for liftingsaid latch out of engagement with said cable when said cable is drivenin said first direction to open said door and for moving said latch intoengagement with said cable when said cable is driven in said seconddirection to close said door and means on said cable for engaging saidlatch for locking said door in its closed position when an attempt ismade to open said door manually.

2. In a door operator as recited in claim 1 in which said means on saidmotor shaft includes a plate, means connecting said plate to said latchand means on said shaft for rotating said plate in a first direction onsaid shaft to lift said latch out of engagement with said cable and in asecond direction to move said latch into engagement with said cable.

3. In a door operator as recited in claim 2 in which said means on saidcable is fixed to said cable for movement therewith in said first andsecond directions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,703,235 3/1955 Reamey 492803,332,472 7/1967 Wiegand l60188 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.J. KARL BELL, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A DOOR OPERATOR HAVING A DOOR, A SHEAVE, A CABLE ON SAID SHEAVECONNECTED TO SAID DOOR AND A MOTOR CONNECTED TO SAID SHEAVE FOR DRIVINGSAID SHEAVE AND SAID CABLE IN A FIRST DIRECTION FOR OPENING SAID DOORAND IN A SECOND DIRECTION FOR CLOSING SAID DOOR, MEANS FOR LOCKING SAIDDOOR CLOSED COMPRISING, A LATCH, MEANS ON SAID MOTOR SHAFT FOR LIFTINGSAID LATCH OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CABLE WHEN SID CABLE IS DRIVEN INSAID FIRST DIRECTION TO OPEN SAID DOOR AND FOR MOVING SAID LATCH INTOENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CABLE WHEN SAID CABLE IS DRIVEN IN SAID SECONDDIRECTION TO CLOSE SAID DOOR AND MEANS ON SAID CABLE FOR ENGAGING SAIDLATCH FOR LOCKING SAID DOOR IN ITS CLOSED POSITION WHEN AN ATTEMPT ISMADE TO OPEN SAID DOOR MANUALLY.